£68 million signalling scheme for Anglian branches

Sixty-six new colour light LED signals, 22 power-operated points and a remote computer-based signalling control system will be installed on the Wherry Lines routes from Norwich to Great Yarmouth/Lowestoft by Spring 2019 (RAIL 835).

Work starts this month, with a nine-day closure of the Great Yarmouth line from October 21 until midday October 30, while the Lowestoft line will operate at peak periods only.

It is part of a £68 million plan to replace some of the oldest semaphore signalling in the country.

Manually operated level crossings will be replaced by modern barriers controlled using CCTV cameras.

Reply as guest

Sad that some of the railway lines can’t be electrified. But new Class 755 Bi-Mode Flirts from Stadler who are to manufacture the new Bi-Mode trains will replace the current DMU rolling stocks and to introduce new extra seats and carriages for passengers who will benefit from once the new Class 755’s are in service from couple of years time.

Reply as guest

Why can’t some railway lines in East Anglia could be electrified. Some of the lines could be electrified with 25kv OHL including:
Ipswich-Felixstowe
Ipswich- Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth
Ipswich-Cambridge
Ipswich-Ely-Peterborough
Norwich-Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft
Norwich-Cromer and Sheringham
Norwich-Ely-Peterborough
Marks Tey-Sudbury
And to introduce new EMU rolling stocks to operate on those newly electrified routes.

Reply as guest

Andrew, I agree with what you are saying. There are gaping holes in East Anglia's electrification.
However, let's take this further and make it a national thing.
I am afraid that electrification will grind to a halt and the mistakes in the organisation of the GWR will be repeated in another 25 years.
Keep going with smaller, gap fillers, that way the skills will not be lost and the diesel units can be cascaded to where there are shortages